Villas-Boas retains title hopes

Andre Villas-Boas declared that his team can still win the Barclays Premier League after ending a period of "chaos" with a much-needed 3-0 victory over Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

The 34-year-old still admits he is under pressure to lift the Londoners up the table, however, and thinks next month could be key to his future and that of the club. Villas-Boas' team remain in fifth and trail leaders Manchester City by nine points having played one game more.

"I think we can (win the title). We have most of the same players (who have won the title before)," Villas-Boas said. "We have the talent and belief will be the last thing to die with us."

Chelsea had dropped to fifth in the table after losing two of their previous three league games - a run that included reverses against rivals Liverpool and Arsenal - but they returned to winning ways at home on Saturday thanks to goals from John Terry, Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata.

The team's performance was rusty at times, and Wolves' poor marking made the task much easier, but the Portuguese did take some encouragement from ending the club's losing streak.

Villas-Boas still thinks catching Roberto Mancini's team is possible if they now go on a run, and he added: "Man City play tomorrow in a difficult game (at Liverpool).

"It's difficult for us to look at a distant leader. In the past we have seen examples of us shortening distances but for that example to serve as inspiration we need to get the winning streak back like we did last year."

Villas-Boas had spent most of this week trying to shake off the comparisons with the winter slump the club endured under Carlo Ancelotti last season - a slump that eventually cost the Italian his job.

Ancelotti did manage to engineer an upturn in form after the new year, however, and Villas-Boas now hopes his side can emulate that run now after finally putting an end to arguably his most tumultuous week in charge at Stamford Bridge.

"In my opinion chaos happened. We were exposed a couple of times with group mistakes (in recent games)," Villas-Boas said. "Now we have to correct them to make sure we are on the right track. From now on so it's a good challenge for the team and hopefully we can now respond in this period."